Random Thoughts on the Artistic Process

I did an interview with visual artist Marty Coleman in September. After the interview was posted, Marty wrote me a quick thank you. In response to his short comment, I wrote a not-so-short, stream of consciousness “you’re welcome” back and ended up thinking deeply about how the artistic process manifests itself across different disciplines, and specifically in my own life.

I wanted to share these thoughts with you, so I grabbed what I wrote and have posted it here — with a few clarifications along the way.

On Success: Thinking Out Of The Box

John Carter, a baseball writer, wrote an insightful, honest comment in response to my Inspiratus interview with visual artist Marty Coleman. He is a friend of Marty’s from their high school days and he writes of being proud of Marty’s success in the world of art.  John also speaks of his own quest to understand success in his own life.

John’s thoughts really got me thinking.  I believe that his are questions that we all face:  What is success?  Who or what defines success?  According to any number of prevailing definitions, am I successful? If I feel that I am not, how do I find or achieve success?

As I pondered these questions recently, I found myself being led to re-read two books that have had a huge impact on me.

The first book is Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

The second is A New Earth:  Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle.

These books are very different from one another, but both are radical and thought-provoking.  Their authors are each thinking out of the box.

Interview with Visual Artist Marty Coleman – Part 1

He MAKEs Absorbent Art:
An Interview with
Visual Artist Marty Coleman
Part 1

Read Part 2 of Marty’s Interview

Marty Coleman is a visual artist who has been working in multiple mediums throughout his career.  Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Marty works in his own photography, design and art studio, MAKE Studio. In 2008, Marty’s “napkin art” piece “America The Beautiful” was included in Time Magazine’s Person Of The Year 2008 edition on Barak Obama.  Recently, Marty  published his first book, ‘The Napkin Dad’s Book of Absorbent Ideas’.

Visual Artist Marty Coleman

I knew Marty from my college days in San Jose, California at SJSU.  Marty was earning his Master of Fine Arts degree, and I was an undergrad music major.  During those student years, we became friends at a successful downtown dining establishment and art gallery, Eulipia Restaurant, where we were fellow waiters.  Eulipia was well known for its California Cuisine, and it was a major gathering place for artists, art aficionados, opera enthusiasts, serious art collectors and diners.  Indeed, it was a deeply creative (and truly gastronomic) atmosphere in which to work.

Almost twenty years went by where Marty and I completely lost touch, and through the Facebook revolution, we recently reconnected.  Back in the day, Marty was the wise-cracking sage who presided over the less experienced wait staff (I was in that group for a time).  Today, it is fascinating and fun to catch up with Marty on his progress and evolution as a full-time independent artist.

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Here’s our interview/conversation: